January 8, 2025

The University of Calgary has received a $26.8M gift from the Alberta Law Foundation to improve outcomes for families that are involved in the family justice system. The gift will fund new research chairs and a Centre for Transformation, both of which will work with the Re-imagining Alberta’s Family Justice System initiative to transform the family justice system into one that prioritizes family wellness. The initiative will prioritize well-being and reduce stress for families through the use of non-adversarial approaches to resolving legal issues. “This gift presents a generational opportunity to make change for those who historically have faced systemic barriers in achieving family justice,” said UCalgary Faculty of Social Work Dean Dr Ellen Perrault.

In a recent article for The Conversation, Natalie Adamyk (University of Toronto) discusses how contract academics make emotional sense out of job situations that may not make logical sense. Through interviews with 40 contract academics, Adamyk found that these instructors often rely on both previous and current employment experiences to infuse a deeper, personal meaning into their current roles. In doing so, contract academics exercise valuable skills related to emotional capital and emotional management, which in turn allow them to “make sense” of their work at universities where they may feel less valued or supported. “As contractual employment becomes increasingly prevalent and contract workers dominate many sectors, their work and emotional lives deserve to be taken seriously and explored in greater depth,” writes Adamyk.

Northern Lights College is spearheading a speed skating program, which will begin in September 2025. The college has partnered with the City of Fort St John to ensure that the NLC Speedskating Team can take advantage of Fort St John’s Olympic-sized indoor ice oval, which is one of only three in Canada. Student-athletes will take trades or university classes at the college, connect with coaches and physiotherapists, and take part in up to five ice sessions each week as they prepare for higher-level skate programs in Québec City or Calgary. “For our domestic students, this collaboration offers a unique opportunity to combine their academic journey with a chance to train and compete at the highest level,” said NLC VP of Community Relations & Institutional Strategy Jessie Drew.

Several campus groups and community members have shared their perspectives on the University of Alberta’s recent decision to shift its EDI framework to an access, community, and belonging framework. UAlberta Non-Academic Staff Association President Quinn Benders and UAlberta Students Union VP External Abdul Abbasi both highlighted the benefits of the university’s EDI policies and expressed hope that these would continue under the new framework. Government of Alberta Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney applauded the decision, asserting that the move would address the government’s concerns about prioritizing “ideology and immutable characteristics over merit.” Community members speaking to City News and the Edmonton Journal noted that the reframing could help to counter polarization and public misconceptions about EDI.

University College of the North has launched a new Power Engineering Class 5 program. The program will train students for careers in arena operations and facilities maintenance “Power Engineers play a critical role in supporting our communities,” said UCN President Doug Lauvstad. “The north has many passionate hockey and curling enthusiasts, as well as many other community and industrial facilities [that] rely on the skills that Power Engineers bring to the table.” The evening program will run from January to April 2025 with 25 students. UCN indicated that there is already a waiting list for future cohorts.

Dalhousie University’s DAL Magazine will be relaunching as a digital-only publication this year. DAL Magazine Editorial Manager AnnMarie MacKinnon explained that the decision was informed by changes to the media landscape and the costs associated with printing and mailing the magazine. With the new format, the magazine will continue to deliver stories to alumni, faculty and staff, and students in a more environmentally and financially responsible way. MacKinnon noted that the magazine will also take advantage of the potential that a digital format has to tell stories in new ways.

While instructors may find students from Generation Z particularly difficult to teach, those who learn to connect with this new generation may find them particularly rewarding and inspiring, writes Beth McMurtrie of the Chronicle of Higher Ed . McMurtrie highlights some of the classroom strategies shared by instructors to connect with students, such as discussing the “why” of what they are teaching; using discussion-based classes and real examples to engage students; and using tools and strategies such as games, multimedia, or role playing to actively engage students. Others detailed offering alternative assessment options, such as giving students the option to produce a video rather than write a paper, or creating opportunities for students to work on research projects within the community to help them connect with the world around them.

Cégep de Thetford is expanding its offerings with two new Attestations d’études collégiales (AECs): one in office automation and web publications and one in social work intervention. The AEC en bureautique et publications web will prepare students with the key technical and office automation skills needed to professionally create and manage digital content. Students in the program will learn a variety of web publishing and project management tools. The AEC en intervention en travail social program will train students to provide psychosocial support to vulnerable clientele in a variety of settings. Both programs will begin in Winter 2025.

The University of Prince Edward Island Board of Governors recently revised the tuition deposits for international undergraduate and international graduate (course-based) students. The board approved a $2K reduction to the undergraduate deposit so that it “would act as less of a deterrent for applicants in what is a very competitive environment.” The international graduate (course-based) tuition deposit was increased to $3K for consistency. These changes are in effect for all students who have applied to the university after December 3, 2024.

Portage College has partnered with Athabasca County to provide new learning opportunities for students, county employees, and councillors. The three-year partnership will see Athabasca County offering enhanced work-integrated learning opportunities to Portage students. In exchange, Portage will provide county employees and councillors with access to online learning initiatives and micro-credentials. “By integrating work and learning, we are enabling our college students to gain essential skills while simultaneously supporting Athabasca County’s workforce,” said Portage President Nancy Broadbent. “This is a powerful way to invest in the future of our community.”